Millennium Library closes top floor in light of recent suicide jump, threat of another

The Millennium Library’s fourth floor was shuttered indefinitely Thursday as civic officials again consider safety improvements at the downtown facility.

The closure follows the death of a man who jumped over a railing two weeks ago, and another person threatening suicide Wednesday.

The Winnipeg Police Service said officers were called to Graham Avenue and Smith Street at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports of a man in distress. While police would not say whether the incident was connected to the library, a city councillor confirmed it was.

“There was an attempt to jump… a security officer had stopped this person,” said Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos, chairwoman of council’s community services committee.

“They have now closed the fourth floor off for public use.”

The City of Winnipeg said the closure was in response to the Aug. 6 suicide of a 40-year-old man.

“Immediately following the incident, we increased our complement of security guards on the fourth floor,” city spokesperson Julie Dooley said in an email to the Free Press.

“While this has been effective over the last few weeks, we’ve decided to close the fourth floor to library patrons out of an abundance of caution while we continue to develop medium- and long-term solutions.”

Dooley said the closure is temporary, but did not provide a timeline.

“We are working to minimize any service disruptions and reopen as soon as possible,” she said.

The city did not comment on Wednesday’s event.

Santos said work is underway to try to make the top floor safer.

“With respect to it happening at the Millennium Library, it is concerning to hear those reports.”–Coun. Vivian Santos

“The (chief administrative officer’s) office is working with Millennium Library. We don’t know what (a) solution looks like,” she said.

It is disheartening to hear of the personal struggles that have led to recent library disruptions, Santos added.

“With respect to it happening at the Millennium Library, it is concerning to hear those reports. I hope we can all work together to find out what that solution is to make the fourth floor safer for everybody.”

Security staff at the library were on alert Thursday, blocking stairway access to the fourth floor and turning patrons away.

That level is home to the library’s information services and a local history room. It includes biographies, maps, government documents, adult non-fiction books and a stockpile of newspapers and historical directories.

Signs posted in the elevators advised patrons that the floor was closed, and duct tape was used to cover the fourth-floor buttons.

Library visitors were advised to see staff on the first or second floors if they need help with computer bookings, information services or to place requests for items kept on the fourth floor.

A security guard and a library employee each said they had not been informed about the reason for the closure, and did not know when it would reopen.

Shortly before 1 p.m., two WPS members were spotted inside the building. One of them wore the white, collared shirts typical of senior ranking members of the police force. They were heading upstairs, accompanied by two other people.

They paused for a moment to discuss something at the base of the large, first-floor stairway, looking up at the fourth-floor railing, where a security guard stood watch.

Business seemed to continue as usual elsewhere in the building.

The head of the union that represents staff at Millennium Library said closing the top floor makes sense, though he urged the city to work on more permanent safety improvements.

“I think it’s important that the city act quickly…. We want the library to be utilized in all aspects on a go-forward basis,” said Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500.

“There’s been numerous incidents that have taken place there… over the years.”

Delbridge said the Aug. 6 death in the library underlined the need for action.

He said he lacked detail on other incidents leading up to Thursday’s partial closure.

“I think it’s important that the city act quickly…. We want the library to be utilized in all aspects on a go-forward basis”–Gord Delbridge

“I don’t have all the information,” he said.

The union leader recently wrote to Winnipeg city council members to call for “urgent action” to address safety concerns at the library.

“These (security) incidents have taken a profound toll on the safety, morale, and the mental health of library staff, as well as on public trust in the library as a safe civic space,” Delbridge wrote.

“We cannot continue to address each tragedy as an isolated event. Instead, we need decisive, sustained action that follows through on the commitments already made in prior consultations and safety reviews.”

The Aug. 11 letter urged the city to restore the Community Connections space (that connected vulnerable people with social services before it was closed due to a budget cut); implement physical safety improvements, particularly on upper floors; and strengthen ongoing safety training and mental-health supports for staff.

He said city officials have since confirmed they will look at new safety measures. The union is reaching out to its members to determine if there are any additional requests for changes.

He said CUPE is also seeking advice on potential legal action against the city if adequate steps are not taken to improve safety at the library.

“We are in consultation with (legal experts) right now (but) we’re hopeful that we can work with the city on addressing some of these concerns,” Delbridge said.

This month’s suicide was not the first of its kind.

In 2017, a 25-year-old man jumped from the fourth floor in the library and later died in hospital.

The entire building was shuttered for more than a month on Dec. 11, 2022, after 28-year-old Tyree Cayer was stabbed to death on the main floor.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca